One of the odd moments to come out of the Helsinki press conference was when Russian President Vladimir Putin said that financier and Putin critic Bill Browder had donated $400 million to the campaign of Hillary Clinton:
MORE: Putin says we suspect U.S. intelligence officials were involved in channeling $400 million from businessman Browder to Hillary Clinton election campaign
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) July 16, 2018
The claim was quickly shot down by multiple fact-checkers.
From the New York Times, for example:
We tried to fact-check PUTIN's claim that @BillBrowder's associates donated $400M in un-taxed Russian $ to @HillaryClinton's campaign, but it was so completely without evidence that there were no pants to light on fire, so I hereby deem it "WITHOUT PANTS." https://t.co/js3XprGK1T
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) July 16, 2018
And PolitiFact:
Vladimir Putin said @HillaryClinton campaign got $400 million from financier Bill Browder partners.
Data says …
$315,000 to Clinton and DNC.https://t.co/1ujZlOjSge pic.twitter.com/4maFBeHHhL— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) July 17, 2018
According to a report for the Russian state-sponsored news agency TASS, what Putin meant to say was the Browder gave $400,000, which is close to what PolitiFact reported:
PUTIN WALK BACK: Russian government corrects his claim that @BillBrowder allies donated $400M in untaxed $ to @HillaryClinton.
Apparently, he meant that $400k went to @TheDemocrats.
NOTE: This is still INCORRECT (assuming he's still referring to the Ziffs) https://t.co/k80YFFS0RV— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) July 18, 2018
Browder disputes the PolitiFact ruling and says he donated “ZERO”:
BREAKING: After Putin accused me at the Helsinki Summit of donating $400m to the Hillary Clinton campaign, the Russian General Prosecutor clarified that Putin should have said $400k. The real answer is I donated ZERO. Total amateur hour. https://t.co/xqxsglR7sj
— Bill Browder (@Billbrowder) July 17, 2018
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Related:
'Tornado of STUPID!' Jacob Wohl's SCORCHING-HOT take on Putin will legit MELT YOUR FACE OFF https://t.co/boBmbDbcX9
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 18, 2018
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen calls for a hearing with the interpreter at the Trump-Putin summit — if she's alive https://t.co/BrUdkxs1nw
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 18, 2018
Wanna see the DUMBEST thread on Twitter? Check out Resist-DOLT Scott Dworkin’s bright IDEA for beating Putin https://t.co/LaOFURGjKZ
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 17, 2018
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